We are most grateful and have been blessed with Mr. Ricardo Morante and Mrs. Cindy Cotto who have coordinated the music ministry in our Spanish Masses and with Mrs. Sarah Lacasse, our cantor, in the English Masses. Sarah has been most gracious in being the interim director of music in selecting the hymns and ensuring that we have an organist/pianist for funerals, weddings, and Sunday English Masses while we sought a new director of music.

Therefore, I am happy to announce that Mr. Agustin Muriago will be our new director of music beginning in mid August. Mr. Muriago is a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate in piano performance at The Hartt School of Music, where he is the recipient of a music talent scholarship, studying under the guidance of Luiz de Moura Castro.

He has performed in both solo and chamber music recitals throughout Argentina, the United States, and Spain. He recently took part in the Gijon International Piano Festival, thanks to a scholarship from the Spanish American Music Council.

In 2013 he graduated from New York University with a Master of Music degree in piano performance as a student of Dr. José Ramón Méndez. Mr. Muriago has also served as adjunct piano faculty at New York University.

Agustin Muriago holds degrees from Rowan University in New Jersey (Bachelor of Music in Piano performance, summa cum laude), the “Manuel de Falla” Conservatory of music in Buenos Aires (Piano Pedagogy and Performance degree), and from the Catholic University of Argentina (Bachelor of Music in Composition).

For more info on Mr. Agustin Muriago you can visit his website: www.agustinmuriago.com.ar I kindly ask that you keep Agustin, Sarah Lacasse, Ricardo Morante, and Cindy Cotto in your prayers as they continue to lead our parish music ministry.

In January 2014, I began the process with a search committee to seek a qualified principal who will take St. Augustine School to a new level of mission formation and evangelization, excellence in teaching and learning and operational vitality. After much prayer and consultation, I am introducing a new model of administration of a president and principal for St. Augustine School. In short, they will work as a team with the president focusing on advancement and business and the principal focusing on administration and instruction. This will ensure that these important areas be given more time and attention in order to take St. Augustine School to that new level.

Therefore I am happy to announce that Mrs. Carmen Elena Rodriguez will serve as President and Mrs. Helen Louise Treacy will serve as Principal. I am most grateful to Mrs. Treacy for applying for the position and the search committee who unanimously and enthusiastically recommended her to me for the position of principal. My gratitude also extends to Mrs. Kathy Spencer who served as our interim part time principal together with Carmen who served as our interim chief administrator during the second half of our 2013-2014 academic year.

We have scheduled an opportunity for you to meet and greet our new president and principal on Sunday, August 24, 2014 wherein they will introduce themselves at the 10:00 a.m. English Mass and 11:30 a.m. Spanish Mass followed by a Coffee Andin the Hall.

This is an exciting time in the history of St. Augustine School. I kindly ask that you keep Mrs. Rodriguez and Mrs. Treacy in your prayers as we together with the grace of almighty God continue the teaching mission of Christ.